Characteristics:
TThis is another one of the popular ones. Next to Deca and D-bol the third most abused substance among athletes is stanozolol, as documented by the many positive drug tests. Among them the case sprinter Ben Johnson, who was stripped of his Gold Medal in the 100 meter dash in the 1988 Olympics. But since then the number of positives has grown exponentially. In bodybuilding Shawn Ray's positive in the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic (a brief stint the IFBB had with drug testing). Ray was the winner of that event, but Canadion pro Nimrod King was also shown to have stanazolol metabolites in his urine.

That short paragraph to illustrate what sort of an impact it has made on the world of sports. Stanozolol is commonly referred to as Winny, after its trade name as marketed by Winthrop : Winstrol. In Europe this may be a bit confusing as the most available form there is called Stromba. Winny comes in two forms, an injectable form and an oral form. Both are equally popular and both are to be used daily. The injections are the same compound as the orals, which is methylated. Due to this feat it can't be esterified for time-release. So its not quite suited for weekly injections although this is claimed on the package insert of the veterinary form of Winny. Another thing that would further add to the difficulty of time-release is that it is delivered in an aqueous solution. That would not exactly facilitate the entry into adipose tissue, needed for the esterification and storage of the substrate in the body.

The injectable version often gives more results. In similar doses there is still more breakdown upon first pass in the liver, making it difficult to get an equal amount absorbed. And on top of that it has to be mentioned that most people simply don't take an equal amount. Too many pills, lesser availability, higher cost. Many factors play a role in that. But of course an oral is to be preferred over daily injections as that gives the necessary complications as well. Think of abscesses and lumps, the searching for new injection sites due to pain and so on. Some have solved this problem by simply drinking the Winny injections. It's the same substance, also methylated to withstand the liver, the availability and price are better and its contained in water. So there really aren't many objections to this.

Of course because they are the same substance, regardless of the method of use, its not advised to use Winny for long periods of time. Slightly less hepatoxic than most 17-alpha alkylated substrates, so it can be used a bit longer, as long as 8 weeks, but longer than that is not wise. Elevation of liver values is quite common.

The specificity of Winny however, lies in how it counteracts estrogenic side-effects such as gyno and excess water retention. First of all it's a 5-alpha reduced substrate. 5-alpha reduction breaks the double bond between positions 4 and 5, which is required for conversion to estrogen via aromatase, the primary enzyme for the manufacture of estrogen in males. Because some of these compounds nonetheless show some affinity for aromatase they may have some use in blocking estrogen from other steroids they are stacked with. Wether or not Winny acts in this way is not entirely sure. What has been a popular point of discussion with stanozolol is its suggested anti-progestagenic effects. The theory goes that Winny can bind and compete for a position at the progesterone receptor much like Clomid of Nolvadex would at the estrogen receptor, thereby inhibiting progestagenic effects. Now, progesterone can aggravate estrogenic side-effects by agonizing estrogen and it does play a role in gyno.

We also discussed that certain steroids may indeed stimulate and act at the height of the progesterone receptor including nandrolone and Norethandrolone. These hormones are also altered by it inducing a decrease in libido and a sense of lethargy and such, and eventhough they aromatize in lesser rates than some other steroids, they show an equal capability to cause estrogenic side-effects, particularly when stacked with other aromatizable compounds. Now there is evidence that Winny does indeed bind to the progesterone receptor1 and its users do not indicate the normal characteristics of progesterone stimulation, which bodes well for these anti-progestagenic properties. There is also some clinical data that it does aid in symptoms that require progesterone suppression2. Much in the way danazol was also successfully used. The one thing we shouldn't lose sight of however is in what rate it binds to the progesterone reception. There is no data on this. For all we know it couldn't bind strong enough to compete with nandrolone or norethandrolone. So its not wise to state that Winny is an anti-progestagin per se, but it does make Winny a good match for these products in stacks in any case.

Strong gains are never really made while using stanozolol (it's a weak androgen since it has no 3-keto group needed for androgen binding), but decent and fairly easy to maintain gains are possible. Its limited time of use however makes most experienced users opt for other steroids in that regard. Winny, in bodybuilding circles at least, is used mostly during cutting cycles to maintain mass. Winstrol, like a DHT compound also gives a distinct increase in muscle hardness and striations in people with a low body-fat percentage. This lends further credence that it too may be a an anti-estrogen. But most likely it has more to do with the overall lower levels of circulating estrogen. Winny is also quite effective at promoting strength because it binds very well at the androgen receptor. Short term stanozolol use can promote drastic strength, a feat often employed early in a bulking cycle (although d-bol would be more suited in that case) or late in a cutting cycle to prevent a decrease in performance. This combined with the red blood cell count-stimulating properties of its androgen affinity make it popular among track athletes as well in order to beget better results. As many, including Ben Johnson, did not take into account it can be detected for quite some time after last use so its not advisable for drug tested athletes. Many have assumed otherwise due to the short half-life, but apparently some inactive metabolites are easily esterified, so they can be found up to 5 months after the last injection.

Winny is mostly quite well-tolerated in men. Cramps, headaches, elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels and liver damage are noted, but on a not so-frequent basis. Standard virilization symptoms associated with the stimulating of the androgen receptor, however, are a problem. Acne, prostate hypertrophy and an aggravation of male pattern baldness can occur, so use by women has to be discouraged.

Due to the frequent rate of injections, users generally have to go spotting for different sites of injection on the body. Calves, shoulders, arms and such. When doing so they noted a localized increase in mass which has given root to the myth that Winny can add muscle where it is injected. What I'm about to say goes for all compounds known to date : Steroids do not increase mass locally. The observance is noted because the injection breaks the fascia around the muscle, which possibly gives a muscle a little more room to grow. This is mostly temporary, and in the best cases very limited. Multiple injections would not increase the size in comparison. When the fascia heals, if it heals, it can lead to something called compartments syndrome, where a nerve is pinched between a muscle and its fascia. Leading to numbness quite often and in some cases to a paralysis of everything that nerve controls. This is not a frequent occurrence. This is rare, but my point was documenting that localized growth spurred by an injection is a myth.

A last note about injectable Winny is : shake before use. Its called an aqueous solution, but the Winny being a steroid is not particularly polar, meaning it doesn't dissolve in the water. When the stuff sits, it will accumulate at the bottom of the vial. A good way to recognize the real stuff as well. So shake before you draw it into a syringe or mix it before you drink it, and perhaps even stir it again once in the syringe prior to injection.

Stacking and Use:
Winstrol is best used at a rate of 50 mg a day. When in an injection that amounts to a single injection every day around the same time. In orals, that'll be at least 5 tabs of a legit product.

In a mass stack Winny makes a good match for Deca and Nilevar. Whether or not its anti-progestagenic effects are for real or not, lets just say it can't hurt. In any stack with Deca the use of 25-50 mg a day for the first 6-8 weeks of the stack can kickstart it and add some strength. With Nilevar there is a practical objection because it is also 17-alpha alkylated and more toxic than Winny, so your stack would be limited to 6 weeks, which is not overly productive.

For cutting purposes Boldenone, Masteron and trenbolone are the best options. If you are employing a longer stack, then use 25-50 mg of Winny for 6 weeks or so at the end of the stack. Boldenone is the best match here as the other two do basically the same thing. They act solely or mostly at the androgen receptor. Making them poorer choices since simply upping the dose of Winny would mostly achieve similar results. Of course neither is methylated, which allows for longer use.

There is no need for an anti-estrogen as Winny may have such a property of its own and does not aromatize at any rate. The only counter-indication with Winny would perhaps be an anti-hypertensive if you use for a longer stack. Be sure to get liver values checked if you use for longer than 6 weeks on end. There is no real use for Clomid or Nolva post-cycle for Winny specifically since there is no post-cycle aromatisation to cause negative feedback. That makes whatever gains you made on Winny quite easy to maintain.

From a small town in Italy, nicknamed The Sardinian Samson for his incredible strength and power. Franco Columbo came to America, trained with the best and competed in countless events for years, such as The World’s Strongest Man and Mr. Olympia.

Known for his incredible muscle definition, the 5ft 5-inch powerhouse dominated the word of bodybuilding throughout the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s.

Accomplishments

Franco Columbo not only made a name for himself by competing and winning in Mr. Olympia, and many powerlifting championships, but he was also a boxer and strong man.

He also starred in TV shows and movies and the famous documentary Pumping Iron, which is still a massive hit today among the bodybuilding community. It follows the training of Franco and some of the other greats such as Arnold in preparation for Mr. Olympia.

Franco was born in Ollolai, Sardinia Italy. He first started his career as a boxer then later moved into powerlifting, and weightlifting, and later progressed into bodybuilding. He went on to win the Mr. Olympia title in 1974, 75 , 76, 77 and 1981.

He was much shorter than most of his competitors at 5 ft 5 inches, but Franco’s determination and perfection made him a fierce competitor.

Franco competed in the world’s first 1977 World’s Strongest Man competition. He came in 5th place overall, considering he was much smaller in stature than most of his competitors, this was an outstanding effort. But unfortunately, he suffered a serious leg injury in a race.

The race involved a fridge being strapped to Franco’s back with a sprint to the finish line. Franco stumbled and dislocated his leg. This was the last time he competed in the World’s Strongest Man event. The next time Franco competed was in the 1981 Mr. Olympia where he took 1st place.

Landscaping with Schwarzenegger

Being a lifelong friend of Schwarzenegger, who he first met in Munich in 1965 where the two competed against each other on several occasions, they soon became the best of friends.

In 1969 Joe Weider sponsored the two European bodybuilders and gave them a $80 allowance per week to train in America. To pay their way and continue living in America, the two started a bricklaying and patio business called European Brick Works in 1969.

Being considered one of the world’s strongest men, he continued to compete in powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting and held a number of world records. Franco also created a training guide in 1988 for men wanting to get in shape. He also trained movie stars such as Sylvester Stallon for the Rambo and Rocky movies, where he turned a thin Stallone into a muscle-bound soldier. He then went on to become a chiropractor.

He’s trained movie stars such as Sylvester Stallon for the Rambo and Rocky movies, where he turned a thin Stallone into a muscle-bound soldier. He then went on to become a chiropractor.

Training
Training Night and Day

In the early days of training, there was a lot of push and drive from other competitors to support each other through rigorous workouts. At times, Franco remembers training for up to two hours in the morning and then again for another two hours at night.

This was due to the fact he was 10 weeks out from Mr. Olympia and he wanted more definition. He pushed through the workouts and admitted that he did see the results that he wanted, but he couldn’t move afterward.

Franco says it’s easy to get big, he says that there are plenty of guys who are massive and have amazing physiques, but not that many that have the right proportions. For Franco, this came years down the line with a lot of development in other areas first before moving on to create a full rounded physique.

Boxing Career

Franco first got a taste for training when he started boxing at an early age. He did well as a boxer but found it very difficult to continue with the excessive aches and pains from previous fights.

In one fight he won by knockout in the first round, but the next day he realized he had injuries over his body and couldn’t remember what happened. For him, this was the deciding moment to start weight training seriously.

An Art Form

In today’s world of competing, Franco is a big fan of trying to bring back the smaller waist and prevent people competing with over enhanced waistlines. He believes that bodybuilding is a sport, and also an art form.

The way people compete now with loud music and performers who demand the audience’s attention is not the way Franco likes it. He prefers to earn the respect of the crown, believing that if you’ve done the hard work you will be applauded.

Training The Stars

Franco designed many programs over the years, one of being for Sylvester Stallone. “Sly” as he’s known in Hollywood needed to pack on an extra 10lbs of lean muscle in time for the shooting of Rambo First Blood II.

The only problem was that he only had 6 weeks to do it. Sly approached Franco in the hope that he could help him get to where he needed to be and fast.

Franco rose to the challenge and put Sly to work, and hard. He would train him twice per day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Looking back at Rambo I and II you can see a huge difference in his shape and size. You can follow Franco’s program and him talking about the training method he used to bulk Sly up online.

Idols and Influences

Seeing that Franco’s best buddy and training partner was Arnold, it’s safe to say that Mr. Schwarzenegger was probably his main influence inside, and on occasion, outside of the gym.

Being the best man at Arnold’s wedding and supporting him through every training session, the two would rarely be seen apart. Franco describes Arnold as the best training partner he ever had.

Franco doesn’t spend as much time in the gym as he used to, instead he’ll go for shorter workouts lasting around 20 minutes three times per week. He also likes to play tennis with Arnold on the weekends, cycling and hiking are all on his list of activities.

What we can learn from Franco Columbo

Franco had a passion for all things fitness related, especially anything involving lifting weights and testing his strength. From boxing to strongman competitions and all the way to Mr. Olympia, Franco’s done it all. If you inspire to be big and strong like Franco or have the desire to progress to greatness, don’t let anything stop you.

It didn’t stop Franco, even months after a serious leg injury, he was back up on his feet training for the Olympia where he took 1st place. With the same determination and true grit as franco, you too can have your very own physique of greatness.

Oxymetholone is without a doubt the strongest and most visibly active steroid to date. Not only does it act very rapidly, it causes a virtual explosion of mass. Gains of up to 10 pounds in 2 weeks are not uncommon. This is largely due to a moderate to low androgenic effect combined with a high anabolic activity also mediated by non-AR mechanisms (mechanisms other than simply binding the androgen receptor). You can imagine that the gains made on oxymetholone aren't the leanest. You would note a drastic smoothing out of the muscle due to estrogen-related fat (lipolysis) and water retention. This lipolysis has been shown to be rather drastic. One study1 on long-term hemodialysis patients showed beyond a doubt the role that oxymetholone can play in causing hyperlipedemia. The fat deposition rate, post-hepatic (after processing by the liver), increased drastically in the oxymetholone group while numbers remained stable in the control group.

It has been suggested that the estrogenic effects of oxymetholone may not be as much mediated by estrogen, as by oxymetholone itself activating the estrogen receptor. Because there is little to no aromatisation off oxymetholone, the possible progestational effect was examined first. Similar to that of nandrolone perhaps. But a study2 testing the progestational effects of oxymetholone and methandrostenolone against those of testosterone as well as nandrolone and its metabolites showed that the progestagenic activity of oxymetholone wasn't even in the neighbourhood of that of testosterone, let alone nandrolone. Ruling out the possibility of progestagenic activity and aromatisation, that only left oxymetholone engaging in a structure with the estrogen receptor itself. Since it has an A-ring similar to that of estradiol (the prime estrogen) so this would be the most logical explanation. Since progesterone acts as an estrogen agonist, it would require circulating estrogen to negotiate such levels of water build-up as oxymetholone causes, so it seemed like a far-fetched idea to begin with.

The water component resulting from oxymetholone use is not be under-estimated either. The benefit of water retention is of course a lubrication of the joints, allowing the comfort of pain-free workouts even with extremely heavy weights, as well as the retention of more nutrients inside the cell, possibly leading to more permanent growth in muscle tissue. The downside to a massive water retention is that it gives you a rather puffed up look. A look not uncommon in off-season competitive bodybuilders and the heaviest classes of powerlifters. With the estrogen increase of course comes the increased risk of more side-effects such as gynocomastia (growth of breast tissue in men). Therefore its always advised that a cycle of oxymetholone is accompanied by the use of an anti-estrogen such as Nolvadex. Nolvadex, keeping in mind that aromatase enzyme is not involved, would be the wiser choice as it blocks the receptor for estrogen rather than the aromatase enzyme. Its wise to note as well that the gains from oxymetholone are largely mediated by estrogen, so reducing estrogen may reduce results as well.

Because it is mild androgen as well as a potent estrogen, blood volume is increased. Androgens raise the red blood cells (although this has been shown to happen through a mechanism other than erythropoesis3) to improve aerobic performance while estrogens increase the white blood cells in an attempt to stimulate the immunity. Couple that increase in blood cells to an increase in water and you get a serious increase in blood volume. This effect has been known to result in magnificent pumps for the users of oxymetholone products. The synthesis of extra erythrocytes (Red blood cells) also increases stamina and performance (this effect is largely negated by the larger estrogenic component. Oxymetholone is not a good product for athletes). Together with the unbelievable strength effect of oxymetholone's water retention that makes for some incredible workouts. On a side note, these characteristics make for anadrol's popular use in treating anemia.

The use of oxymetholone should be strict and brief. While it is no doubt the strongest steroid, quantitatively, its also by far the most hazardous steroid to your health. Apart from the great risk of common steroid-related side-effects (acne vulgaris, benign prostate hypertrophy, gynocomastia and androgenetic alopecia), it also has numerous other side-effects. Most notable is oxymetholone's hepatoxicity (damaging to the liver) : Its standard 17-alpha-alkylated as with most oral steroids, resulting in an inavoidable raise in liver transaminase enzyme counts. The most frequent of the hepatoxic effects is jaundice4 (yellow coloration of the skin) due to an oxymetholone induced increase in biliburine, but others include peliosis hepatis and formation of hepatic tumors (cancer). And that's not all. There is also a number of intrinsic side-effects noted with the use of this steroid. Headaches, stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and diarrhea are among common afflictions associated with oxymetholone use.

This is the reason why only strict doses of oxymetholone are used , often only 1-2 tabs of 50 mg. The general rule of thumb is to use 0.5 or 0.6 mg per pound of bodyweight, most likely putting you in the 100-150 mg range. Because of the negative effects on the liver, its often not used for more than a two or three weeks. The results are fast, but also fleeting and therapy is usually continued with another aromatizable compound, most likely a long acting testosterone like Sustanon or testosterone enanthate. The Anabolic Review also warns that under no circumstances should oxymetholone use exceed 6 weeks. When using oxymetholone, or any oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroid for that matter, one should always consult a physician on a frequent basis and get your liver values checked. Its not that oxymetholone is necessarily more toxic to the liver, but rather that much higher doses are needed than with other oral steroids, so the relative risk increases as well.

Other notes I should mention about this compound are that oxymetholone's androgenic qualities are not linked to a 5-alpha reduced form. As a matter of fact it shows rather poor interaction with the 5AR enzyme, making it futile to treat a possible increase in hair loss with 5-alpha reductase-blocking products such as finasteride. Its androgenic component stems from the fact that oxymetholone is very much like Dihydrotestosterone were it not for the added 2-hydroxymethylene group. Since this group can be metabolically removed, that would leave methyl-DHT. A compound with a weaker affinity for the androgen receptor than straight DHT, but more active and with less affinity for the DHT-reducing enzyme 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Ultimately resulting in much stronger, instead of weaker androgenic effects than compounds that are actively 5-alpha reduced. This evens out largely, because the distribution is even across the body, where 5-alpha-reduction usually concentrates more potent androgenic forms in androgen responsive tissue such as skin and scalp.

The effect on the blood pressure is rather drastic, so its recommend that you use a anti-hypertensive drug in conjunction, especially if you already have a fairly high blood pressure. Here too the care and control of a physician is advised. Because of the HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis) suppressive nature, the use of Clomid or Nolvadex and HCG is advised as well towards the end of your oxymetholone use. Lastly, oxymetholone also has an ill effect on the glucose tolerance5, causing borderline diabetic situations. Something to be weary of if you yourself have been diagnosed with similar problems already.

In conclusion one can safely state that the negative effects on the system associated with the use of this hormone are rather drastic and that the use is therefore not recommended for beginners, women or people who have pre-existing afflictions. Nonetheless Anadrol remains a popular steroid among experienced users to kick-start a steroid cycle because of its magnificent increases in strength and size. Most people who have used oxymetholone with great success have no problem calling it the strongest and most reliable steroid available today. A somewhat surprising remark however, since Methandrostenolone can produce similar results with half or a third of the doses normally used with oxymetholone and with less side-effects. So personally I would recommend methandrostenolone over oxymethelone, as its clearly stronger, milligram fro milligram. Oxymetholone remains a strong and favorable compound however, despite its side-effects. Its effects may also be slightly more explosive than those of methandrostenolone and therefore people seeking strength may give it an edge over the former.

A lot of oxymetholone products were discontinued in the early 90's due to the high rate of side-effects, making them rather uninteresting. The renewed interest came when it was being effectively used in the treatment of the wasting disease AIDS, sparking a comeback. Nonetheless users should note that the original 50 mg Anadrol50 was taken over by Unimed. The original Anadrol50 by Syntex is no longer made or found. There has also been a surge of legit underground compounds such as the Ttokkyo oxymetolona 50. So be careful and do your homework when looking for Oxymetholone.

Stacking and Use:

Anadrol is an oral only compound and is 17-alpha alkylated with a methylgroup to allow for a higher yield when having to traverse the liver, as with most oral compounds. As such it has a good degree of hepatoxicity and should not be used for longer than 6 weeks on end and it is highly recommended that you get your liver values checked regularly. Because of its long activity and poor affinity (due the the 17AA) good results can be obtained with a single daily dose, so spreading your doses out is an option but is anything but necessary. A single dose of 50-100 mg every day is recommended, but doses as high as 150 or 200 are used by experienced bodybuilders as well. Due to its rapid action and high toxicity, its mostly used to kickstart a longer injectable cycle in the first 3-5 weeks of that cycle. It will add a lot of mass and strength on immediately, getting you through the low-result beginning of an injectable cycle. Its use is thus very similar to that of Dianabol, but with the latter being slightly more versatile.

As such it makes a good match early in a stack with you standard testosterone/nandrolone stacks, with boldenone (equipoise) and methenolone (primobolan) as well. Since it has a high intrinsic affinity for the estrogen receptor and next to no intrinsic affinity for the androgen receptor I doubt anyone would contemplate using this for cutting. To even out the massive water retention one might choose to stack it with trenbolone (finaplix/parabolan) or stanazolol (Winstrol/Stromba) but never for the purpose of looking lean. Anadrol, like Dianabol, may also be one of the few orals that has real merit when using it alone. Although the gains are often hard, near impossible to keep afterwards.

In terms of secondary drugs, I wish I had a lot to recommend here, but really there isn't much to be helped with oxymetholone. Even with liver protection it would still do serious damage and with every bit of added protection, the efficacy rate of oxymetholone would go down. As for estrogen maintenance, Nolvadex being the strongest of estrogen receptor antagonists comes highly recommended and preferably in higher than normal doses, 30-40 mg, as its oxymetholone itself that is the culprit and not its aromatized form. On the other hand, we need to take into account that more than half of Anadrol's anabolic action stems from this estrogenic action as well. So its sort of trading less side-effects for gains. One thing that is advised is blood pressure medication as extreme hypertension has been noted. And I'll say it a third and last time, its best to get regular liver check-ups when taking Anadrol.

]]>gbnstore.netCornish_Celthttps://musclemecca.com/showthread.php?t=240877The GBN Bikini Picture Competition!https://musclemecca.com/showthread.php?t=240875&goto=newpost
Wed, 11 Jul 2018 06:05:16 GMT*
_The GBN Bikini Picture Competition!_
We are going to have a picture contest.
You post up here what YOU think is the sexiest bikini girl you have seen.
I will judge...

The GBN Bikini Picture Competition!

We are going to have a picture contest.
You post up here what YOU think is the sexiest bikini girl you have seen.
I will judge the photos in 2 weeks and will pick a winner!

Nice and simple!To Play/Rules:
Post up a pic of what you think is the sexiest bikini girl.
You can post up to 3 pics per day.
You can enter as many times as you want.
This contest will end 2 weeks from today onWednesday the 25th of July 2018

The winner will receive$200to spend at GBN

Good Luck!

- - - Updated - - -

This competition is now open

]]>gbnstore.netCornish_Celthttps://musclemecca.com/showthread.php?t=240875New Contest Starting Soon!https://musclemecca.com/showthread.php?t=240768&goto=newpost
Thu, 28 Jun 2018 06:52:29 GMT*We will be starting a new GBN contest next Wednesday so keep an eye out for the thread!*We will be starting a new GBN contest next Wednesday so keep an eye out for the thread!

Born and raised in the Pelican State, Louisiana (USA), Ronnie was raised by a single mother – alongside a younger brother and two sisters.

As a very sporty child, he reached a high-level playing football during high school; his naturally bulky frame helped him power through others his age, and he became known for his imposing figure.

Due to his growing reputation in football, Ronnie became determined to stay stronger than his peers. He worked tirelessly to gain strength and size.

Ultimately, this is what motivated him to begin lifting weights and set out on his fitness journey.

College

After growing stronger in the gym, Ronnie’s performances as a football player improved even further. As a result, he was offered a scholarship to Grambling State University to study Accounting and represent their football team.

Ronnie accepted the offer, and spent the next 4 years at college; at this point, his plan was to become a certified public accountant (CPA).

Graduation – Move To Texas

After earning his degree in Accounting, Ronnie made the move to Texas – he believed that there would be more job opportunities in the neighbor state.

However, he struggled to find a job, and ended up delivering pizza for a food company instead.

It wasn’t long until Ronnie became unhappy with his situation; he knew that he was destined for bigger things, and began searching for other professions.

“Domino’s was the hardest job I ever had. I dreaded every day working there, but I knew I was destined for something better.”
Police Officer

During his hunt for other jobs, Ronnie found an opening at the Arlington, Texas police station in the newspaper. Soon after, he’d applied and successfully gained his new job in 1989 – at the age of 25.

Ronnie continued to train in the gym, managing to fit weight lifting around his new lifestyle in the police force; fortunately, the police station was equipped with a private gym.

It was here that he was encouraged to join another gym, after growing too strong for the limited equipment available at the police station. As a result, Ronnie signed up to the Metroflex gym down the road, where he was quickly introduced to the owner, Brian Dobson.

Brian took a keen interest in the promising athlete after realizing his potential to succeed as a bodybuilder. He offered Ronnie a lifetime free membership if he allowed Brian to train him for a competition.

This was enough to convince the future champion to enter his first show. He began his intense preparation, getting ready to step on stage for his debut.

First Competition

A few months under the guidance of gym owner, Brian Dobson, and Ronnie was in prime condition to start his competitive bodybuilding career. He turned up at the 1990 Mr. Texas show as an unknown amateur.

However, Ronnie’s hard work and determination meant that he walked away with his first trophy, at the age of 26 – beating his coach, and many other more seasoned athletes in the process.

Taking A Break

Riding high from his first victory, Ronnie realized his potential to succeed in the industry. He wasted no time, and entered another contest that year – the 1990 NPC Texas Championships.

But he couldn’t continue his dream start. Ronnie placed 3rd behind the likes of Jerry Rodgers and Edgar Fletcher; it was this competition that convinced him to take time away from the stage, to further develop his physique.

Pro Card

After taking the rest of 1990 away from the limelight, Ronnie made his return, determined to beat the more experienced athletes on stage.

Being naturally gifted, he’d managed to build formidable arms – which other athletes acknowledged as being ‘Mr. Olympia standard’, a high compliment for an amateur.

With this encouragement, Ronnie entered the 1991 World Amateur Championships, travelling to Poland in the hope of making a name for himself – and that’s exactly what he did.

The judges were impressed by Ronnie’s physique; he overshadowed his competitors, and was consequently awarded with the 1st place trophy. But that wasn’t all.

By winning his biggest show yet, Ronnie had earned the prestigious Pro Card – becoming a professional bodybuilder at the age of 27.

Life As A Pro

Ronnie didn’t have an easy start to his professional career. His first show was the 1992 Chicago Pro Championships, which featured a strong line-up – including the likes of; Bob Paris, Kevin Levrone, and Milos Sarcev.

He placed 11th, which set the tone for his next 3 years.

Between 1992 – 1994, Ronnie entered a further 10 competitions. However, the highest he managed to place was 3rd.

Road To Success

Not one to give up, Ronnie continued entering shows; he didn’t let his lack of success get in the way, and eventually his motivation to win paid off.

In 1995, at the age of 31, the future legend appeared in the Canada Pro Cup. This show was filled with another star-studded line-up, but this time, Ronnie managed to beat his opponents.

Overtaking such athletes as Rich Gaspari and Milos Sarcev, Ronnie finally took home his first trophy as a professional bodybuilder. This victory thrust him into the spotlight, and he became seen as one of the upcoming stars of the future.

Making History – Mr. Olympia

Over the next 10 years, Ronnie experienced a winning streak, dominating most competitions he entered – he walked away with 24 trophies, becoming almost unbeatable in his prime.

During this period, he wrote his name into the record books; Ronnie matched Lee Haney’s record by winning the prestigious Mr. Olympia show 8 times.

By consistently beating the likes of Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, Kevin Levrone, Lee Priest, and Jay Cutler – Ronnie became known as one of the greatest bodybuilders in the history of the sport.

Retirement

After a record-breaking 15 years spent competing at the highest level, Ronnie made the decision to retire after the 2007 Mr. Olympia.

“This is it for me at the Olympia, and September 29th will be the last time I step on a Mr. Olympia stage. I want to thank God, my family, my friends, all the great fans who have supported me over the years.”

Ronnie left the sport as a legend, beating Arnold Schwarzeneger’s Mr. Olympia record, and cementing his name among other idols.

Surgery

After his retirement, it was clear that Ronnie’s heavy-lifting during his intense training sessions had damaged his body. By 2016, the 8x Mr. Olympia winner was forced to endure 7 operations on his back – including a gruelling 11 hour surgery.

As a result, the 8x Mr. Olympia champion had to cope with living in a wheelchair for a period of time.

However, he didn’t let this get him down; Ronnie believed that what he achieved as a bodybuilder, will always outweigh any negatives in his life.

“Do I have any regrets? If I had a chance to do it all over again, would I change anything? Yes – one thing.

That is when I squatted 800lbs. I would do 4 reps, instead of 2. That is my only regret in my career”

Entrepreneur

After his retirement, Ronnie was keen to stay involved in the fitness industry. As a result, he decided to create his own supplements company – who market a range of products from fat burners to pre workouts.

Ronnie has also made frequent appearances at bodybuilding expo’s around the world, meeting and greeting his millions of fans (as well as promoting his company) – inspiring them to realize their dreams.

Idols and Influences

Ronnie names Brian Dobson as a key influence in his success; Brian convinced him to compete as a bodybuilder, and guided him to his first trophy (as well as letting him train at his gym for free).

However, most of his motivation comes from within – ultimately, it was himself that pushed past the setbacks early in his career and continue training with the highest intensity.

What We Can Learn From Ronnie Coleman

One asset helped Ronnie’s journey to the top – determination.

He was naturally gifted and had a great start to his career, by taking home a trophy in his debut show (1990 Mr. Texas). However, from 1992 to the end of 1994, Ronnie didn’t win any shows – his best achievement was placing 3rd during this period.

But he didn’t give up. Instead, Ronnie pushed his limits everyday in the gym, sculpting a better package every year.

Ultimately, this is what made him an 8x Mr. Olympia winner – and is the reason why he’s known as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.

With the right determination and mind-set, anyone can realize their dreams.

Characteristics:
With the exception of perhaps anadrol, Halotestin is the single most dangerous steroid to use. Its liver toxicity is unrivaled and you wouldn't be the first person to end up in the hospital with jaundice and dangerously elevated liver values after a hefty cycle of fluoxymesterone. My question has often been simply "Why?". Fluoxymesterone has a low anabolic capacity. The results in mass would be small to non-existent. Qualitatively similar gains as one would book with trenbolone, but tren would go for equal or less money, deliver three times the gains and wouldn't be half as risky to use. Therefor the sole marked use of fluoxymesterone that is actually warranted is that by power- and weightlifters seeking to boost strength while remaining in a set weight class.

In bodybuilding its used near the end of cutting cycles, since in people with an already low body-fat percentage it adds a distinct hardness and definition to the look, although, as stated, better and safer products will achieve similar effects. As with these alternatives fluoxymesterone has absolutely zero estrogenic activity and will thus not add water or fat to the frame in any way.

While a definite increase in aggressiveness and a notable rise in erythrropoesis is noticed with the use of fluoxymesterone, it has been theorized that it actually has very moderate binding to the androgen receptor. Either that or it shows a higher affinity for other receptors. The enzyme aromatase comes to mind because of the effect it has, like a DHT compound would, on muscle hardness. The latter seems like a better explanation. On the one hand there is nothing that would immediately indicate it acting on the androgen receptor, on the other there is very good likeness to other steroids that are mostly AR-mediated. Its my best guess that not all has been said about fluoxymesterone. Its not a very interesting or grateful object of study however due to the high risk and low yield of this particular steroid.

Athletes that may consider its use are endurance athletes that do not get drug tested (as it is quite easy to detect). The stimulating effect on erythropoesis (red blood cell production) and cell respiration, such an athlete would find a good use for the increase in aerobic capacity noticed for this, without adding unnecessary bodyweight to the frame he has to carry. In this aspect it may be good to note that a short cycle of Halotestin with a moderately long cycle of Equipoise may have some merit in this instance. Neither would increase water retention drastically, neither would give explosive gains. But both have positive effects on the VO2 max.

In any case, and whatever the reason of use, 4 weeks is the best duration of use, 6 weeks at the most. As stated before, many athletes, having used fluoxymesterone while not under supervision of a physician, have ended up in the hospital with life-threatening conditions.

Stacking and Use:
Halotestin is taken in mild doses (10-20 mg) every day for short periods of time, 4 weeks, 6 weeks at the very most due to its high level of toxicity. The use of anti-estrogens is not necessary since fluoxymesterone does not aromatize at all. As secondary drugs one may want to consider blood pressure medication such as catepressan to avoid hypertensive conditions. What you will definitely need is a check of liver values on a regular basis if you want to play it safe. I don't normally recommend the use of liver-protectors during a cycle as enhances liver function breaks down a greater amount of your steroid, but in this case you ought to make an exception. Milk thistle, desicated liver, vitamin B6 and such both during and after a cycle are highly advised. There is no need for clomid of Nolvadex use after a cycle to bring back natural test.

Halotestin really only serves a purpose as a bodybuilding drug when the athlete is cutting. Probably in the late stages of a cutting cycle to promote muscle density and hardness, preserve muscle tissue and such. To that effect it may be good to use some Halotestin (20-30 mg/day) the last 4 weeks of a boldenone or methenolone cycle for example, or at the end of a stack with trenbolone. It may make a good stacking partner for stanazolol (Winstrol/Stromba) as well since they serve the same purpose. But frankly in all cases opting for a higher dose of the other drug may be a better choice, both in terms of gains and safety. Boldenone (Equipoise) being the one possible exception. Due to its toxicity Halotestin is not much sought out in stacks.